SOUTH HADLEY — With a playoff berth on the line for the South Hadley boys basketball team, the Tigers delivered in front of a packed gym full of thunderous fans Tuesday night.
The Tigers beat Chicopee Comp, 56-49, to secure a spot in the Division 2 Western Massachusetts Tournament.
After the game, coach Juan Maldonado led a celebration, which included chest-bumping that reverberated from the players all the way to the fans.
“It’s extremely exciting,” Maldonado said. “They’ll remember this when they’re older.”
South Hadley (10-10, 6-8 Suburban) last made the playoffs in 2014.
Fans made a pathway back to the weight room where the team met after the game. When the players made their way through, the cheers became deafening.
After the final buzzer sounded, there was a police presence to keep the student section from charging the court.
Nate Poirier hit five 3-pointers for the Tigers, but none were as big as his last.
With the Tigers clinging to a two-point lead with under a minute to play, Poirier found himself at the 3-point line after a pass from the post from Matt Grochowalski.
Without hesitating, Poirier pulled up and nailed the shot that closed out the Colts.
“I just shot my shot, that’s it,” Poirier said. “My teammates set me up really nice. It’s not just about me it’s about the team.”
Poirier finished the game with 17 points for South Hadley.
“When I first came to the program Nate (Poirier) struggled with self confidence,” Maldonaldo said. “To see him become a leader who wants to take the big shot is unbelievable. He defines what Tiger basketball is about.”
Calvin Bridges led South Hadley with 28 points. The junior had an answer every time Chicopee Comp began to make a run.
“A lot of hard work paid off,” Bridges said.
Hunter Carey (five points) had four points in the fourth quarter that helped quell some Chicopee Comp momentum as well.
Bridges and Poirier accounted for more than half of South Hadley’s points.
Grochowalski was in foul trouble for most of the game, limiting his impact.
Chicopee Comp’s offense came mostly from Adrian Bonilla scoring 20 points and Bryan Atimbo accounting for 16.
Bonilla’s range was a problem for South Hadley. Bonilla had six 3-pointers but did not have any in the fourth quarter when South Hadley’s zone tightened around him.
Atimbo’s points came in the paint, but his production leveled off in the second half when South Hadley began to take the lead.
Chicopee Comp (9-11, 6-8) had a 28-26 lead at halftime. Bridges scored 13 points in the third quarter, which gave the Tigers a six-point lead heading into the fourth.
After Poirier’s shot gave the Tigers a 54-49 lead, the defense did not allow another basket and Bridges scored on a breakaway lay up to end the game.
